Liquid fuel burning device of pressure type



Nov. 7, 1944. R. BAKER ETAL LIQUID FUEL BURNING DEVICE OF PRESSURE TYRE Filed Feb. 19, 1942 3 Sheet s-Shez et 1 INVENTORS 14 TTOENEY Nov.7, 1944. g, BAKER ETAL. 2,362,342

LIQUID FUEL BURNING DEVICE OF PRESSURE TYPE Filed Feb. 19, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. ROBERTBAKER BY CORTLAND W. DAV/5 Nov. 7, 1944. R. BAKER ET AL LIQUID FUEL BURNING DEVICE OF PRESSURE TYPE Filed Feb. 19, 1942 s Sheets-Sheet s U 2/ M 9 mkm m /L 5 5 WWW. v. E3 1 l m w ob X h H IIIIHI Ill T I RM 5 m I11 amid w E 2 m w. we a 4 1 w A w mfl 5 Q1 0W4 7 55. l w 1 M 2 1 w 5 .10 0 2 F 2 l Patented Nov. v 7, 1944 un -Tao ST TES PATENT "foF -ICE FUEL DEVICE 0F 'I h Robert Baker, Alexandria,

Summitville,

PRESSURE TYPE! and Cortland Davis, I Ind., Iassignors to i The Mantle Lamp Company of America,"Chicago,Ill.-, a-cor- ,poration of' Illinois Application February 19, 1942', se ial No. 431,568

13 Claims. c1 .j s7-,-'5o

This invention pertains to an improved construction of liquid fuel'burningdevices of the pressure type. by which the starting operation involving the requisite preheating of:the generator of the use of an auxiliary startingtorchor flamejby which an improved generator construction is employed which constitutes. the sole passageway of the atomized or'va-porized fuel to the mixing tube for both the starting and therunning conditions of the device, by which an improved single control valve mechanism is employed to controlboth' the starting and running conditions'as well as device is accomplished without'the 1 throughthe lanternat-rightangles to theplane Fig.2 is a horizontal, sectional view through the 1 structure shown in Fig. 1, taken along the line- 2+2 in the latter figure; Fig. 3 is a vertical, centraLsectional view taken of section of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 illustrates the valvemechanism employed, to an enlarged 'scalein vertical, central, sectional view correspondingto Fig. 3, and in Fig. 4 there is also shown in vertical, central, sectional view,- the devices employedto feed the fuel'to the valve mechanism for the starting and'running other mechanical features greatly facilitating eCO- nomical construction of the device and its efficient operation. The invention is particularly applicable to different forms of pressure lighting devices of the mantle type;'su-ch as lanterns and lamps of various types, as well as to different types of liquid fuel burningsure type, such as stoves, torches andheating devices generally. '7

In addition to the above,'the'invention includes devices for efficiently burning differentikinds of liquid fuel as desired, for example gasoline at one timeand kerosene at another time; by the simple expedient of changing the amount of air supplied to themixing tube or manifold, depending upon the kind of fuel torbe burned. The devices provided by the invention for efliciently realizing the starting condition and for reducing the starting conditionto a short time interval, include a mechanical s'tructure'in the reservoir of the device by which the air under pressure in said reservoir is utilized during=thestarting condition wardly from its top wall, thevalve mechanism to break up. and atomize the liquid fuel then delivered by the valvemechanism to the generator tube, the atomizationbeing so-effective that the resulting fuel mixturemay be lighted at once and burn without excessive smokingto sufflcient- 1y heat the generatortube very rapidly, even when kerosene is used as the fuel; so that the valve mechanism may be tumed to its running condition within a brief interval after starting the burning of the fuel. r f v The above stated advantages constitute the objects of the invention, which, as well as the mechanical structures involved and their mode of operation, will be best understood by reference to the'accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, as applied to a lantern of the mantle type; in which{ Fig. 1 is a vertical,- central view,'partially in section, through the lantern'in the plane of the air tubes employed; Y

devices of the presconditions; e I

Fig. 5 is a vertical, central, sectional view to i an enlarged scale, through the upper portion of the mixing tube or chamber, corresponding to Fig. 3, and showing also in vertical central, sectional view the generator tube of the lantern;

' Fig. 5a is'asectional view to an enlarged scale, of a part of the structure shownin Fig. 5 taken along the hue 5a5a; l 1

Fig. 6 isa vertical, central, sectional view throu h the parts shown in Fig. 5, taken along the line 6-6 in the latter figure,and

Fig. 7 is a detail: view to an enlarged scale of the devices employed to change the lantern from a condition foruse with relatively heavy liquid fuel, to a condition for ,usewith a relatively light along the line 1-1 in Fig. 1. r

Similar numerals refer tosimilar. parts throughout the several views. 1 As shown in Fig.1, the lantern consists of a liquid fuel and-vice versa, this view being taken metal reservoir l0 having centrally extending up I I, which valve mechanism is surrounded by a sheet metal sleeve l2 to support the base plat I 3 plate I3 is provided with an. upwardly, extending edge flange .l3a to form a seat for the lower end of the lantern chimney IS. The, base plate I3 has rigidly secured theretsxthe lower, ends of two air tubes [6 and l! which open without obstruction through the base plate, excepting that the air tube I1 is provided at'its lower end as more clearly shown in Fig. 7, with a gate or shutter l8 pivotally connected to the underside of the base plate l3 at l9, and. preferably having a projecting lug I8a by means of which the gate or shutter may be swung to a position'closing the, lower end of the'air'tube fl or toan' alternate position opening the-'lowerwend of said air'tube, the closed condition of the air tube I! being that employed when the lantern is to be operated with a relatively light liquid fuel such as gasoline, and the open position being that employed when the lantern is to be used with relatively heavy liquid fuel, such as kerosene.

The upper ends 01- the air tubes-I 6 and H are is rigidly secured in a position extending upwardly above the block 20, by having its lower ends secured to the upper ends of the air tubes l6 and I1 and to the block 20, for example brazing. The upper horizontal portion of yoke 2! is sufliciently spaced. from the upper end of the block to permit the. readyentrance and curing the pump in the reservoir.

30 having a bore which is a sliding fit on the outer surface of the barrel of an air pump 3!, which pump barrel is provided at its outer end with an outwardly extending flange engaged by a flanged collar 32 having internal threads for engaging the threads on the sleeve 30. The end flange of the pump barrel is of substantially the same outer diameter as the threaded portion of the sleeve 30 and is correspondingly threaded to permit the collar 32, to pass over it to the position indicated in Fig. 3, the inner threads in the collar 32 being cut away, so that when the collar is in the position illustrated in Fig. 3, it may turn freely relatively to the pump barrel, in se- A suitable packing ring is preferably employed between the barrel flange and the end of the sleeve 30, to

' make a tight joint at that place. The collar 32 removal Of the nozzle- 22 into and from the blocl;

20 for assembling and dismantling operations. The upper horizontal portion of the yoke 2i has" rigidly secured thereto an upwardly extending screw 23 which projects through inner and outer annular hood members N and 29 to rigidly support the hood members and hold them in place relatively to the mechanical frame work of the lantern by a nut 26 threaded onthe screw 23 above the hood member 25. The hood members 24 and 25 are preferably rigidly secured together, for example by brazing or welding, to constitute a unitary structure. I The inner and lower hood member 21 is cylindrical andperforated at its upper portion, to provide ready egress for the gases of'combustlon, below which it is comically flared outwardly and downwardly, and provided at m with an annular seat toreceive the upper end of the chimney l5, said member 24 being continued below and outwardly from the upper end or the chimney, to constitute a weather shield 24?) for the chimney. The outer hood member 25 is generally spherical in shape and extends downwardly and outwardly from the upper end of the member 24, to form an annular weather" shield forthe upper perforated portion of the member 24. As shown in Fig. 1, the metal block 20 is secured, for example by screwthreads and brazing, to the upper end of a vertical mixing tube or chamber 21. which is preferably substantially coaxial with the axis of the chimney 15. The lower end of the mixing tube 21 is preferably threaded to engage a mantle support 28 containing a burner screen, not shown, which support in turn carries a mantle 29 coaxially with the mixing tube 21', so that fuel mixture delivered to the tube 21 is projected centrally thereof and downwardly intothe central portion of the mantle'29. v

As shown in Fig. 2, the base plate i3 is provided with perforations 13b to supply external air to the mantle 29 to assist in completely burning the fuel mixture, said base plate also being provided with an opening 130 tofacilitate insertin a, lighted match or taper to light the fuel at the is provided with a central bore which is a sliding fit on the pump plunger rod am, as a result of which. the collar 32 constitutes the. outer end wall of the pump: barrel. and also av closing cap for the sleeve 30, the bore. of which sleeve constitutes the filler opening for the reservoir "I. As shown in 1,. the reservoir la is preferably provided with an air-release. valve 10b of any known form, for dissipating the. air pressure in the reservoir when use of the lantern. is discontinued.

As also shown in Fig. 3', the lower edge portion of hood portion 24b is provided with opposite perforations to receive the lower bent ends of a bail 33- which bent ends are of a conformation cooperating with the hood portion 24b to prevent disengagement of the ball from the hood portlon when the bail is in its lantern carrying position.

As illustrated in Fig. 8, the housing of the valve mechanism H is provided with an upwardly extending tubular branch Ila-projecting through a suitable clearance opening therefor in the base plate IS, the upper and externally threaded end of said extension Ila engaging a collar 34. by which the generator tube 35 is supported and connected with said. extension Ha, to hold the nozzle 22 in place in the block. 20. The valve mechanism is provided with. a valve rod 36 by turning which, the starting condition of the lantern is efi'ected for a desired interval, and by further turning which the running condition of the lantern is eifected, as described below.

- As. shown in Fig. 4, the housing of the valve mechanism H is provided with a downwardly extending portion projecting into the reservoir l0, and held in piece by external screwthreads engaging similar internal threads in a collar 31 rigidly secured, for example by brazing, to the reservoir with the head or said collar in a recess therefor in the reservoir. Inside of the reservoir to, the valve housing supports in vertical position two tubes 38 and 39, the tube 38 being emplayed to supply atomized fuel and air from the reservoir, to the valve "mechanism during the starting condition of the lantern, while the tube 39 serves to supply liquid fuel only to the valve mechanism during the running condition of the lantern. The tubes 38 and39 are rigidly secured to the housing of the valve mechanism by entering at their upper ends suitable bores in the housing of the valve mechanism, in which position they are rigidly secured, for example by brazing. The tube '39 is of smaller diameter than the tube 38 and is open throughout its length so that it may receive liquid iuel from adjacent the bottom wall of the reservoir 10. The tube 38 is packed with fibrous material 40 of any kind spring being suiiicient to having capillary action upon the liquid fuel, so that the liquid freely entering the'lower'open end of the tube 38 from adjacent the bottom wall of the reservoir 10, may thoroughly wet the fillbe not so tightly packed in the tube 38 as to pre vent the flow of ,air through the filling material under the air pressure developed in the reservoir l by the hand pump 3|. The tube 38 is provided at its upper end with a screen38a and saidtube is surrounded by a second tube 4| having a bore somewhat larger than the external diameter'of the tube 38, to form an air space between the tube 4| and the tube 38. The ends of the tube 4|are pressed inwardly to engage the tube 38 in a manner to maintain the airspace between the two tubes, and the tube 4| is heldin' place preferably by brazing its ends to the tube 38. The outer tube 4| is provided with an air'inlet opening 42 above the'hi'ghest level 43 of the liquid fuel in the reservoir l0, and the tube 38 is provided with an aperture 44 for air flow, which'is just above the lower end of the tube cation with the air space between the tubes 38 and 4|, and also with the interior of the tube 38.

As shown in Fig. 4 the housingof'the valve mechanism II is provided with. a horizontal bore 45 containing a first valve member 46 having an external diameter somewhatsmaller than the bore 45 to permit the flow offuel mixture between the valve member 46 and the bore 45 to a discharge passage 4! in the extension I la, when the lantern is in operation for the starting condition of the lantern, and to correspondingly. permit the flow of liquid fuel to and through the passage 4! when the lantern is in its running condition. The valve member 46 is tapered at its inner end to engage a first valve seat 48 in the housing of the valve mechanism, to control fuel mixture fiow from a passage 49 in said housing which communicates with the upper end of the interior of the tube 38, and the other'end of said valve member 46is externally threaded to engage corresponding threads in the housing bore 45, so that turning the valve member 46 will move it towards or from its seat 48 as desired. The valve member 46 carries a second valve member 50 having a tapered end engaging a second valve seat in the housing of the valve mechanism, so that said second valve member 50 will control the flow of liquid. fuel froma passage '52 in open communication with the upper end of the tube 39, through a clearance space around the second valve mem ber 50 for delivery to the-passage 41 for her 50 is a sliding fit in the valve member 46, and carries at its inner end an outwardly ,extend ing flange 53 which iS-a sliding fitin the bore 46a in the valve member. 46, in which bore the flanged end of the valve member 50 engages an antifriction ball 54 which in turn is engaged by one end of a spring 55 contained in said bore. The end of the bore 46a contains asleeve- 56 which fits said bore and has a sliding fit on the valve member 5|]. The sleeve 56 is externally grooved at 58a to receive the compressed end of the valve member 46, to hold said sleeve in place. The spring 55 is held in compressed condition by the inner end of the bore 46a, the tension on the positively hold the valve member 50 against its seat 5|, when the valve 4|, and in open communi the running condition of the lantern. The valve mem- -air flowing upwardly in the tube tube 39, through the passageway 52,

member 46 is moved a small distance from its seat 48, but not enough to engage the flange 53 with thesleeve 56. The housing of the valve mechanism around the valve rod 36 is closed by a threaded collar 5'! and packing rin 58 in the usual manner.

As a result of the valve mechanism construction described, after liquid fuel is placed in the I reservoir Hi to any operative depth below the and when the requihighest permissible level 43, site air pressure has been developed in the reservoir above the liquid fuel by the action of the hand pump 3|, lantern is established by turning the valve rod 36 sufficiently to move the valve member 46 from its seat 48, the amount required to permit atomized fuel and air to flow freely to the passage 41 and thus to the generator tube 35. For this condition of der pressure flows through the aperture 42 downwardlyv and around the tube 38 between the tube 38 and the tube 4|, into the tube the lower aperture 44, and then upwardly through the fibrous material in the tube 38 which is then wet with the liquid fuel. This subdivides the 38 and in its passage upwardly through the fibrous material, .theair picks up liquid fuel in a manner to atomize the liquid fuel and carry it in mixed condition with the air through the .passage 49 and around the valve member 46 delivered to the generator tube 35. In a manner to be described, the fuel mixture is delivered in burnable condition to the mantle 29, where it isignited and in a very brief interval sufficiently heats the generator 35 due to the proximity to the mantle 29, .to make it feasible to is furtherturned to move it outwardly, thereby moving the valve member 46 farther from its seat 48, the flange 531s engaged by the sleeve 56,

and continued movement of thevalve rod 36 moves the valve member 50 from its seat, thereby ermitting the flow of liquid fuel without obstruction or. hindrance of any kind through the around the valve member 50, around the valve member 46 and tothe delivery passage 41 and thus to the genera tor 35. For this condition of the valve mechanism, although the path of travel from the interior of the reservoir through the tube 38 and through the passage 49 to the delivery passage 4L-is still open and in the same condition as it was during the starting of the lantern, air is no longer taken from the reservoir, because the drop in pressure through the open fueltube 39 is substantially zero, and as a result, substantially the same pressure is exerted upon the upper end of the passage 49 as 42, which quite as effectively stops the further flow of air from the reservoir; as would be the case if valve mechanism were employed to positively shut the passage 49. In this manner by a comparatively simple valve mechanism, the air under. pressure in the reservoir is utilized during the starting condition of the lantern to supply the air required to make the fuel mixture for starting the lantern and heating the generator, and the same valve mechanism by means of a single rotary valve rod, provides for establishing the running condition of the lanternby which liquid fuel'is supplied as such the starting condition of the the valve mechanism, air un- 38 through minute particles of the to the delivery passage 41 where it is' is exerted upon the aperture toQ-thegenerator tube by the reservoir Hi, without however permitting any appreciable fiow of air from the reservoir to and thrmighythe valve mechanism. It is important that the length of air travel through the fibrous material 43, determined by the vertical location of the aperture 44, the inner diameter of the tube 33, and the kind of material and degree of, packing of the material Ail, shall be so chosen as to produce such a degree of fuel atomization that the starting. flame in the mantle will be neither too rich nortoo lean; for if the atomization is too. great, 'a rich mixture and smoky flame result, which are not adapted to starting requirements, and if the atomization is too small, a lean mixture results which it is difficult or impossible to light. The fuel atomizing or carbureting devices illustrated in Fig. 4 as a starting means for a pressure lantern, are equally applicable as a means for supplying an atomized or carbureted mixture from liquid fuel, to any desired liquid fuel burning devices, for example, stoves, torches and similar devices.

As shown in Fig- 5, the generator tube 35 preferably but not necessarily consists of a lower 'portion 35a, and an upper portion 35b of relatively small diameter, the lower end of the portion 35b entering the upper end of the lower portion 350, and being tightly secured to the lower portion after pressing the upper end of the lower portion around it, for example by brazing the parts together. The lower portion 350 is packed or filled with material to prevent surging of the fuel mixture delivered to the mantle, said packing or filling material being preferablyof a nature involving long filaments of minute diameter, the filaments preferably extending the entire length of the filling material and being of a nature that will not readily break and produce small separate pieces of the material. The said filling material may advantageously consist of glass filaments of minute diameter and a large number of said filaments being used either in twisted condition to form a yarn or not as preferred, a sufficient quantity of said filaments being employed to suitably fill the portion 35a. The filler described has the advantage that each of its filaments may be continuous from end to end of the filler material, and that it is sufficiently flexible and pliable so that it does not readily break and produce small pieces of the material that might find their way through the generator tube to the nozzle supported thereby and clog the outlet opening of the nozzle. A further advantage of this filling material is that the surface of the filaments is smooth and presents a minimum opportunity for the deposit of carbon particles formed by the vaporization and distillation of the fuel, to engage and lodge on the filling material. At the Same time, the filling material serves as an effective filtering agent as to relatively large particles of foreign matter that may be carried by the liquid fuel, to prevent their finding their way to the nozzle, without interfering with the passage through the generator tube of minute and infinitesimal particles of carbon developed in the vaporization of the fuel, which as a result of having no place to lodge or accumulate,-find their way in separated condition to and through the nozzle without clogging the latter. The portion 35b of the generator isunobstructed in any way and provides for free flow of the fuel through it during the operation of the lantern. At the beginning of this flow and during the starting condition of the lantern,

air pressure in the;

211a with the result that the stream of atomized the liquid fuel flowing through the portion 35b;

is finely atomized and mixed with air so that when delivered from the nozzle to the mantle, the mixture-is in burnable condition, andimmediately that the the burning of the fuel is begunin the mantle, on account of the proximity of the generator to the mantle, the generator is rapidly heated so that a remarkably short interval the generator is hot enough tobegin the vaporization of the atomized particles of fuel, which continues until the heat of the generator is sufficient to vaporize the liquid fuel it supplied to it in liquid condition and without atomization, as is done during the running condition of the lantern.

The upper end of the generator portion 35b is curved from vertical position to horizontal position where it engages and is rigidly secured, for example by brazing, to the upper end of the nozzle 22, said nozzle having a cylindrical outer surface, and provided with an axial and longitudinal bore 22a held with its axis in vertical position by a guiding and supporting tube 59 carriedby the block at. The bore 22a is closed at its upper end and at its lower end is internally threaded to engage the correspondingly threaded nozzle tip 2212 provided at its lower end with a minute discharge aperture 220 communicating with the bore 22a, the discharge aperture 220 being coaxial with the nozzle 22. The nozzle 22 fits and is freely movable vertically in the supporting tube 59, to facilitate assembly of the generator 35 and to facilitate replacement of the generator when and if such a course becomes desirable.

As shown in. Figs. 5 and 6, the block 20 is provided with a central axial bore 20a. of substantially larger diameter than the external diameter of the tube 59, which latter tube is coaxial with said bore. The bore 28a is closed at its upper end, and the tube 59 is supported in said bore by threaded engagement with the top wall of the block 20, which connection may be further secured if desired, for example by brazing. The air tubes i6 and IT open into opposite sides of the bore 200. above the lower end of the tube 59, as a result of which the rapid flow of fuel mist or vapor as the case may be, from the nozzle tip 221) downwardly and coaxially with the bore 20a, produces an aspirating effect on air delivered into the bore 20c by the air tubes 16 and 11, which aspira'ting or bunsen efiect is accurately determined and adjusted by the location of the lower end of the tube 59 relatively to the discharge ends of the air tubes [6 and 11. It frequently occurs in manufacturing devices such as the generators 35-, that it is difiicult to accurately make them in manner of mounting the nozzle 22in the tube 59 as just described, permits inaccuracies within reasonable tolerances, of the location of the nozzle 22 relatively to the lower end of the generator 35 because the nozzle tip 2212 may have one position or another vertically in the tube 59, as long as the tip 22b does not project below the tube 59, for any of which positions the eificient and optimum aspirating effect of the fuel vapor discharge on the inflowing air from the tubes 16 and IT, is maintained.

The lower end of the bore 20a is internally threaded to engage corresponding external threads on the upper end of the mixing tube 21, and in this manner the mixing tube 21 and the mantle 29 are supported coaxially with the bore or vaporized fuel as the case may be, delivered from the aperture 22a, is centrally maintained in it passes downwardly the mixing tube 21 and discharged .centrally into the mantle 29, withlittle or no engagementbe- 21. It will be noted that the bore a in theblock 20 is of substantiallythe same diameter-.asthe bore of the mixing tube 21, as aresultofwhich the bore 20a and the mixing-tube 21 together determine a compartment into which air is dethrough the mixing tube themixing tube being relatively livered by the air tubes I6 and I1 around the tube 59, the function of this compartmentbeing to mix the air so delivered bythe air 'tubes with the fuel projected downwardly from the nozzle 22, in view of which thesaid compartment is referred toin the claims as a.mixing chamber.

, -While' the generatorofthe invention isnot restricted to any particular sizes or measurements, one practical construction has been found effective in which-the, portion a.of the generator is a brass tube having an external diameter of about 3%" and a wall thicknessof about %4' and in which the portion 35b is a brass tube having an inner diameter of' about 1 and awall the discharge aperture being only a few thouthickness of about $64" 1' 220 for this construction sandths of an inch in diametenfor example from sixto eight-thousandths o-faninch. It is de sirable that the two portions of thegenerator shall be made of highly heat conductive material such as brass,'and with the: construction described, the moment heat is producedzatthe mantle 29 by the initial burning of the fuel,- the generator is very rapidly heated s'othat in aifew seconds vaporization of the fuel in the'generatora begins, and that in, for example, forty seconds from the beginning of-the burning operation with kerosene as the fuel, the generator is sufficiently heated to'properly vaporize the liquid fuel forthe running condition of the lantern,

the starting devices generally, 'or. not, and particularly where it'is desirable to .avoid clogging and surging, and where the use of 'extraneous'preheating devices is undesirable.

In connection with axially therewith and without change of direction of any kind, so that theentire kinetic energy of the fuel stream'isfa'vailable to projectfthe fatomized or vaporized, fuel a into the mantle 29, thus avoiding appreciable thereby avoiding apand condensation of the vaporizedfuel on said surfaces with resulting'dripping of the collected fuel from saidsurfaces.' In other words, the lantern in operation is substantially free from appreciable undesirable fuel collection, condensation and olripping. c

The generator, nozzle and mixing devices illustrated in Figs. 5 and'6, may be used with advantag'e, wholly or in a whether for lighting purposes the operation of thelantern described, several important considerations are [involved as foll0ws., I I a l In a pressure lantern using kerosene as the fuel it is necessary to ighertemperaturethan that required for a more preheat the generator to a volatile fuel such as gasoline. It is therefore desirable when kerosene is used, to reduce to a mini- ,mum the weight of metal-in the generator that must beheated, inorder toreduce as much as possible the length, of time required for preheating the generator.

1 1 ,We have found-it ve ry advantag eous toemploy a generator including two .diflferentsizes and weights of tubing," With the larger size at the lower end suitablein size for housing a packing material adapted to prevent surging during the interval being'much less'where gasoline is used as fuel. It has been foundthat with the gener-- ator constructed'as described, there is no need for the use of any devicesto-clean 'the nozzle aperture 22c, notwithstanding its minute size, a possible explanationfor this being the small diameter of the generator portion "35b and the corresponding'high' velocity -'of flow of the vaporized fuel through said tube; which-velocity is maintained' through the bore 22a and through the nozzle tip 22b, thereby affording little if any opportunity for minute impurities or carbon-particles to lodge in the burner tip and clog the same. A lantern constructed as described; has been operated continuously with gasoline for over 1800 hours without clogging the generator tube or nozzle aperture. v

Anotherfeature thas is important, is that the upper portion of the generator,- Where the destructive distillation of the fuel occurs; and from there to the nozzle, should'be very highly heated, which is found'to prevent-the building 'up v,of objectionable carbon masses in the generator. The small exposed surface of the generator-tubes,

keeps the upper portion of the generator very hot, which materially contributes to .the, effective generator action described. .1"

It will further be observed that'the atomized or vaporized fuel stream delivered from the; nozzle 22b is projected through-the; mixing tube -2]- 00.-

sizable masses,

lantern operation, and with the, smaller size at th upp r. nd.

The .small upperportionlofthe generator has a greatly reduced internal-volume per unit of length and the resulting rate'of movement of vaiporized fuel therethroughis correspondingly increased. We have foundin practical. tests that when .the generator includes an-upper section -,made from a very-smalltube, this small section may be preheated in ashort time and that the deposit of carbon, produced by "the destructive distillationof the fuel. duringzvaporization, is greatly reducedand that'a generator of this-design will have greatly increased hours of usefulness, than larger. diameter generators. izing liquid fuel by generators of the kindunder consideration, is always accompanied to some degree'by the..destructive. distillation of the. fuel and the corresponding formation of free carbon particles. 1 These particles atthe instant of form- ;ing, .are extremely minute, but in the vpresence'of any favorable condition or structure thereto, they rapidly conglomerate" to form appreciable and which rapidly clog any filters or screens employed, as well as thedischarge apertures of the nozzles .usedz By our invention, .in-

stead of attempting to .cope with these. 'con'gl0m erate carbon masses after they are formed, we

,prevent appreciable conglomeration of the'miparticles, by highly. heating thegennute, carbon erator of smallncross-section, and weibelieve,

what is equally important,f,weproduce in ,i the .manner described,.in.,-the portion, of the'g'enerator where most if,n 0t all .ofthe destructive distillationv of ,thefuel; occurs, -:.such: an extremely high ,yelocity of flow of the gases of 'volitizatio'n, that the instant the minute carbonnparticles are part, with liquid fuel burning Vapor-' formed, they are picked up and carried by the gas stream as such, to and through the nozzle or mixing tube, to ensure suificient free air in- I take for the proper combustion of the kerosene 'fuel containing a relatively large number of heat units, it being necessary to produce a combustible mixture having a correct flame propagation.

and consequent flame size,

heating and incandescence of the mantle. When gasoline is used in the lantern without any change in the generator nozzle, the air supply tubes and the manifold or mixing tube, and their relationship to each other, the flame propagation of the gasoline mixture will be more rapid, because of the lesser heat units in such fuel and consequently the flame will be more oxidizing in character and shorter in length and will not properly heat the same mantle.

To cure the ditficulty just referred to, and to make the same lantern equally effective with both kinds of fuel, we have found that a shutter may be employed to close the intake end of one of the air supply tubes, and that when this tube is closed the air intake into the mixing tube will be reduced to a degree to lessen the flame propagation and re-establish a flame of the necessary character and size lighter fuel, without impairing the effectiveness and emcien'cy of the lantern for operation with the heavier fuel when the shutter is opened.

To maintain correct fuel and air mixing action, we have provided a sleeve with an open lower end adjacent the delivery ends of the air supply tubes and the manifold or mixingvtube, and we have positioned-the discharge orifice of the generator nozzle within this sleeve. -W'e find that when the open lower end of this sleeve is fixed in a predetermined optimum location, the position of the discharge orifice of the nozzle may be varied within the limits of the sleeve without appreciably affecting the said mixing action, which sleeve therefore permits the use of generators of slightly different lengths without modifying the mixing action, as long as the discharge orifice is within the stationary sleeve. This conveniently accommodates small differences in length of the generators, usually incident to manufacturing operations, it obviates the need for accuracy in assembling the generators in the lanterns, and it makes the assembling and replacement of the generators a simple operation readily and successfully effected by unskilled persons.

An'important part of the invention consists of means for using a relatively non-volatile liquid fuel such as kerosene (coal-oil)", from which a suitable preheating flame is produced for' heating the generator of a lantern of the class de scribed. The problem to be solved required meansfor producing a mixture of atomized kerosene and air of a desired richness, and the delivery of this mixture to a burner without change as to the atomized or finely divided condition of the fuel component. a e

for the proper incandescence of the mantle with the to establish uniform ture, which, when discharged fice, is directed. to a ple, a radial space. of.

ing a carbureted mixture of-liquid fuel and air for use in preheating a lantern generator, when the liquid fuel used is relatively volatile, such as gasoline.

Generally in this latter class of preheating devices the air from the top of the lantern reservoir is mixed in the reservoir with a very small amount of gasoline to produce a carbureted mixture from the readily -volatile gasoline, which mixture is a substantially stable, combustible gas mixture that, when discharged from a nozzle, may be conducted through cold manifold tubes and if desired changed in direction by such tubes, without the fuel vapor condensing on the cold manifold tube walls, the success of this class of preheating devices being dependent almost entirely upon the high volatility of the fuel.

In the present invention means for producing an air and fuel mixture are providedthat consist of devices for conducting air fromthe top of a lantern reservoir (above fuel level) into a wick laden with kerosene by its capillarity, and allowing this air-to pass through a predetermined length of this wick to atomize a part of the kerosene and produce acombustible mixfrom a nozzle oriburner screen with little or no contact with the walls of the manifold tube being permitted, to thereby deliver to the burner a combustible mixture for a preheating flame.

'A- critical part of the invention consists in a wick having a desired density and capillarity and in the length of the passage of the air through the kerosene laden wick. When this distance is too long, the combustible mixture produced will be too rich in fuel and the preheating flame therefrom will be very smoky and not suitable for generator preheating purposes; on the other hand, if the length of the air passage through the wick is too short, the combustible mixture will be too lean and it will be very difiicult if not impossible to ignite it at the burner.

In an illustrative practical embodiment of the starting carbureting. devices referred to, we used for the tube 38, a brass tube having an outside diameter of of an, mch and an inside diamnearly tothe bottom ofthe reservoir H), the filling material 40 consisting of 20 strands-of 8/8 ply cotton yarn inserted inand extending substantially from end to end of. .the tube; the inner diameter of the tube 41, which is. not critload, was selected-of a size to providev for free air flow between the tubes 38 and M, for examabout /84 to a": of an inch; the air inlet opening 42 was positioned vertically of the tube 4!: to be well above the highest level 43 of the liquid fuel in the reservoir 10,, the position of this opening being. not otherwise critical; and the aperture 44 was positioned vertically of the tube 38, to provide avertical length of travel of substantially 1% inches through the filling material' lil laden with relatively nonvolatile liquid fuel such as kerosene, for air entering the said filling material through said aperture 44, this length of travel for optimum results being rather critical for the illustrative construction described. With the construction just described, the air and atomized fuel mixture lighted readily, there'was but little smoke produced even at the instant of lighting, 'and the generator was heated very rapidly to establish the running condition of the lantern. We further found that the richness of. the air and ervoir. While we have described our invention asappliedto a lantern, it will be understood that the novel described features of the invention may be advantageously used with other forms of pressure lighting devices of the mantle type, such as mantle lamps of various kinds, and that some or all of said features of the invention may be efiectively used in liquid fuelburning devices of the pressure type that are not primarily intended for lighting purposes, such as stoves, torches and heating devices generally. I While the invention is disclosed in the. particular embodiment above described, it is understood that it is not limitedthereto, as equivalents thereof may be employed without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

described our invention, what we *I-Iaving thus claim is:

1. In a pressure lighting device of the mantle type for operation with liquid fuel and including 'a generator tube and nozzle, and an air tube, aspirating means including the combination of a nozzle-supporting device having fixed support and having a bore supporting said nozzle with a sliding fit axially and for containin the discharge end of said nozzle, and supporting means imparting fixed support to said nozzle-supporting device and holding the discharge end of said bore in fixed relation relatively to the discharge end of said air tube for optimum aspirating effeet on air from said air tube by fuel projected from the discharge end of said bore, whereby the discharge end of said nozzle may have different positions axially within said bore and produce substantially the same aspirating effect on air from said air tube for said difierent positions;

2. In a pressure lighting device of the mantle I type for operation with liquid fuel, the combination including an air tube, a stationary tube having its discharge end in optimum aspirating relation to air delivered from said air tube, and a fuel nozzle supported with its discharge end in said stationary tube and directed towards the discharge end of said stationary tube, said nozzle being movable axially in said stationary tube, whereby substantially the same aspirating effect is producedfor difierent positions of the discharge end. of said nozzle within said stationary tube.

, 3. In a pressure lighting device of the mantle type for operation with liquid fuel, the combination including a block having a bore therein, an air tube having its discharge end secured to said block and opening into said bore, a stationary tube rigidly secured to said block in and substantially coaxial with said bore, said stationary tube having an outer diameter substantially less than the diameter of said bore, and a fuel nozzle supported in said stationary tube with a sliding fit, the discharge end of said stationary tube being in optimum aspirating relation to air delivered from said air tube, whereby substantially the same aspirating effect is produced for different positions of the discharge end of said nozzle within said stationary tube.

4. In a pressure lighting device of the mantle type for operation with liquid fuel, the combination including a metal block having a vertical and downwardly opening bore therein, two air tubes having their discharge ends substantially horizontally and coaxially disposed and opening into opposite sides of said bore, a stationary said stationary tube having an outerdia'meter substantially-less than the diameter of said bore, and a downwardly discharging fuel nozzle supportedin said stationary tube with a sliding fit, -the--lower and-open end (if-said stationary tube being in optimum aspirating relation to air delivered into said bore by said air tubes, whereby substantially-the same aspirating effect is pro- "duced-for'-different'positions vertically of the discharge'end of said nozzle within said stationary tube. r 5. A generatorfor liquid fuel burning devices of the pressure-type, including the-combination of a generator-tube, and packing material in said 'tubeconsisting of glass filaments of minute dianieter.--*- 6. Agene'r'atorfor liquid fuel burning devi of'the pressure type, including the'combination of a generator tube having lowerand upper por tions'of" respectively larger and smaller internal diameters-and'packing material'in said lower -portion,"-said lower portionhaving an external diameter of the order'of' five thirty-seconds of an inch and a wall thickness of the order of one sixty-fourth of an inch and said upper-portion having an internal 'diameter of the order of one :sixteen'th'of an inch and awall thickness of the 7 order of one 'sixty-f'fourth of an inch. I 7. A generator for liquid'fu'el burning devices offthepressure type, including the combination of a generato'r' tube having lower and upper portions of respectively larger and smaller internal 'dian1ete1's,"'and packing material in said lower 8'.'A"genera'tor for liquid fuel burning devices of the pressure type, including the combination "of a generatortube having lower and upper portions of respectively larger and smaller internal diameters} and packing material in said lower 'portibn, s'aidsmaller internal diameter being of the order of one-sixteenth of an inch.

9. A generator for liquid fuel burning devices of the pressure type, including the combination of a generator tube for directing fuel flow in a first direction, and a nozzle connected with said tube and having a discharge orifice opening in a second direction substantially the reverse of said first direction, said generator tube containing packing material comprising glass filaments of minute diameter.

10. In a pressure lighting device of the mantle type for operation with liquid fuel, the combination of a base plate, two air tubes secured at their lower ends to said plate and extending perpendicularly therefrom in the same direction on opposite sides of the axis of the device, said tubes having curved upper ends extending horizontally towards each other, a hollow block in the axis of said device and connected with the curved ends of said tubes, the hollow in said block being vertically disposed and closed at its upper end and open at it slower end, a nozzle support in the hollow in said block and held by the upper end of said block in vertical position, a straight and vertical mixing tube connected at its upper end with the open lower end of the hollow in said block and extending downwardly from said block coaxially with said nozzle support, and means at the lower end of saidmixing tubefor supporting an inverted mantle coaxially with said mixing tube and with said nozzle support.

11. In a pressure lighting device of the mantle tim for ope ation with liquid tuel. he m tion of a base plate, two air tubes secured at their lower ends to said pl te and extending perpendi ularly therefrom in the. same direction on opp site sides of the axis of the device, said tubes having curved upper ends extending horizontally towards each other, a hollow block in the axis of said device and connected with the curved ends of said tubes, a mixing tube connected at one of its ends with said block and communicating with the hollow therein and disposed in the axis of said device for supporting a mantle at its other end, said air tubes supplying air to the hollow in said block, and said block having a support for a fuel nozzle, a U- shaped yoke of bent sheet metal having its ends adjacent opposite sides. of said block and secured to the ends of said air tubes respectively and to said block, the mid-portion of said yoke being above said block and providing a clearance space vertically between said yoke and said block permitting the insertion of a fuel nozzle into said nozzle support and also the removal of said nozzle from said nozzle support, and a hood restin upon and removably secured to the mid-portion of said yoke,

12. In a pressure lighting device of the mantle type for operation with liquid fuel, in combination, a vertical mixing chamber, a mantle to be supplied with combustible mixture from said chamber, a fuel nozzle extending coaxially downwardly into said mixing chamber, means for supplying a hydrocarbon fuel under pressure to said nozzle, an air tube having one end permanently open to atmosphere and its other end opening laterally directly into said mixing chamber above the outlet of said nozzle so that. air leaving said air tube and turning downwardly will. be in direct aspirating relation to said nozzle, said air tube being fixedly dimensioned to determine the amount of air supplied thereby to said mixing chamber for mixing with a light hydrocarbon fuel issuring from said nozzle, a second air tube aacasia leading from the atmosphere and having its discharge end disposed in similar relation to said mixing chamber and said nozzle, said second air tube being fixedly dimensioned to determine an additional amount of air to be supplied thereby to said mixing chamber when fully opened for mixing with said air from said first-named air tube and with a heavy hydrocarbon fuel issuing from said nozzle, and means for manually placing said second air tube either in fully open or fully closed condition.

13. In a pressure lighting device of the mantle type for operation with liquid fuel, in combination, a vertical mixing chamber, a mantle to be supplied with combustible mixture from said chamber, a fuel nozzle extending coaxially downwardly into said mixing chamber, means for supplying a hydrocarbon fuel under pressure to said nozzle, an air tube having one end permanently open to atmosphere and its other end opening laterally directly into said mixing chamber above the outlet of said nozzle so that air leaving said air tube and turning downwardly will be in direct aspirating relation to said nozzle, said air tube being fixedly dimensioned to determine the amount of air supplied thereby to said mixing chamber for mixing with a light hydrocarbon fuel issuing from said nozzle, a second air tube leading from the atmosphere and having its discharge end disposed in similar relation to said mixing chamber and said nozzle, said second air tube being fixedly dimensioned to determine an additional amount of air to be supplied thereby to said mixing chamber when fully opened for mixing with said air from said first-named air tube and with a heavy hydrocarbon fuel issuing from said nozzle, and a valve operating in 2.

- plane intersecting said second air tube for alternately fully opening or fully closing the same to the atmosphere.

ROBERT BAKER. CORTLAND w. DAVIS. 

